Solar cell module

ABSTRACT

A solar cell module ( 1   a ) is constituted such that a solar cell panel ( 9 ) is held using a main frame member ( 10 ) that holds one side of the solar cell panel ( 9 ) and a sub-frame member ( 20 ) that holds an adjoining side that adjoins this one side, the main frame member ( 10 ) is constituted from a solar cell panel main holding portion ( 11 ), a main wall portion ( 12 ), and a main bottom piece ( 16 ), the sub-frame member ( 20 ) is constituted from a solar cell panel sub-holding portion ( 21 ), a sub-wall portion ( 22 ), and a sub-bottom piece ( 26 ), the sub-bottom piece ( 26 ) of the sub-frame member ( 20 ) is positioned above the main bottom piece ( 16 ) of the main frame member ( 10 ), the lower surface near the side end of this sub-bottom piece ( 26 ) abuts against the upper surface near the side end of the main bottom piece ( 16 ), and a water barrier piece ( 28 ) bent upward is formed at the inner side edge of this sub-bottom piece ( 26 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a solar cell module that holds a solarcell panel so as to surround that solar cell panel using a frame member,and that is installed in an inclined manner on an inclined place such asa roof.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, solar cell modules are constituted from a solar cell paneland a frame member that holds this solar cell panel. As frame membersused for such a solar cell module, members with various structures areknown.

As the structure of the frame member, a frame member is known that has astructure provided with an outer wall perpendicularly formed along oneside of the solar cell panel, and a solar cell panel holding unit thatis horizontally formed at the upper part of this outer wall, and thathas a U-shaped cross section.

By inserting a side of the solar cell panel into the inside of the Ushape of the solar cell panel holding unit whose cross section isU-shaped, the frame member sandwiches the solar cell panel from aboveand below, forming a solar cell module.

Further, in order to fix a solar cell module in an installation place,the frame member is provided with a bottom piece that horizontallyprojects at the lower edge of the outer wall of this frame member. As asolar cell module using such a frame member, various modules have beenconventionally known (see FIGS. 1 to 3 of Patent Document 1, forexample).

With the solar cell module described in Patent Document 1, a bottompiece provided at the lower edge of a frame member used for this solarcell module projects from the lower edge of the frame member toward theouter side, which is opposite the solar cell panel side (inner side).

Note that in this specification, for solar cell modules that hold theperiphery of a solar cell panel using a frame member, it is assumed thatthe “inner side” means the “side in the direction where the solar cellpanel is located”, and the “outer side” means the side opposite this“inner side”, that is, the “side in the direction opposite the directionwhere the solar cell panel is located”.

Patent document 1: JP H9-96071A

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

As described above, with the solar cell module described in PatentDocument 1, the bottom piece provided at the lower edge of the framemember used for this solar cell module projects from the lower edge ofthe frame member toward the outer side, which is opposite the solar cellpanel side (inner side).

Then, to arrange and install such solar cell modules, because of thebottom piece that projects from the lower edge of the frame membertoward the outer side, space for disposing this bottom piece isnecessary between the solar cell module and the solar, cell moduleinstalled adjacently to it. Consequently, this wastes installationspace.

In view of the above, in order to solve this, a frame member has beenconsidered where a bottom piece of the frame member used for fixing asolar cell module projects from the lower edge of the frame membertoward the inner side, that is, the solar cell panel side.

FIG. 24 is a partial exploded perspective view showing the structure ofa solar cell module 3 b according to a conventional example using such aframe member. This solar cell module 3 b according to the conventionalexample has the following structure. That is, in FIG. 24, a solar cellpanel 9 has a rectangular shape, and using two pairs of members, eachpair constituted from a main frame member 50 that holds one side of thissolar cell panel 9 and a sub-frame member 70 that holds an adjoiningside that adjoins this one side, the solar cell panel 9 is held.

The above-mentioned main frame member 50 is constituted from a solarcell panel main holding portion 51, a main wall portion 52, and a mainbottom piece 56. Among these, the solar cell panel main holding portion51 has a U-shaped cross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches oneside of the solar cell panel 9 from above and below so as to hold thesolar cell panel 9. The main wall portion 52 is connected to the bottomof the solar cell panel main holding portion 51 and extends downwardtherefrom. The main bottom piece 56 is provided to the inner side of thelower edge of the main wall portion 52, extending inward.

The sub-frame member 70 is constituted from a solar cell panelsub-holding portion 71, a sub-wall portion 72, and a sub-bottom piece76.

Among these, the solar cell panel sub-holding portion 71 has a U-shapedcross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches an adjoining side ofthe solar cell panel 9 from above and below so as to hold the solar cellpanel 9. The sub-wall portion 72 is provided with a sub-outer wall 73and a sub-inner wall 74 that extend downward with an internal space 77sandwiched therebetween, and a sub-base piece 75 that closes theinternal space 77 at the lower edges of the sub-outer wall 73 and thesub-inner wall 74, provided under this solar cell panel sub-holdingportion 71, the sub-wall portion 72 being constituted with a side endopening of the internal space 77 closed by abutting against with themain wall portion 52 of the main frame member 50. The sub-bottom piece76 is provided to the inner side of the lower edge of the sub-inner wall74 of the sub-wall portion 72, extending inward.

With the solar cell module 3 b according to the above-mentionedconventional example, since the solar cell panel 9 is held using themain frame member 50 and the sub-frame member 70, when attempting toconnect the corners of the main frame member 50 and the sub-frame member70, as shown in FIG. 24, the main bottom piece 56 of the main framemember 50 and the sub-bottom piece 76 of the sub-frame member 70 collidewith each other, the main frame member 50 and the sub-frame member 70cannot be connected as they are.

In order to connect the main frame member 50 and the sub-frame member70, it is necessary to remove a part of the sub-bottom piece 76 of thesub-frame member 70 (removal necessary portion 78) as shown in FIG. 24,and, therefore additional man-hours and costs for this task have beennecessary.

In view of this, as a solar cell module that does not require theabove-mentioned removal work, a new solar cell module 3 a has beenproposed. FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view showing such a solarcell module 3 a, FIG. 21 is a partial exploded perspective view showingthe structure of this solar cell module 3 a, FIG. 22 is a partial planview thereof and FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along E-E inFIG. 22. Note that in FIGS. 20, 22, and 23, a solar cell panel 9 isomitted.

The new solar cell module 3 a according to this conventional example isa module using a sub-frame member 60, instead of the sub-frame member 70of the solar cell module 3 b according to the above-describedconventional example. The sub-frame member 60 has the almost samestructure as the above-mentioned sub-frame member 70.

That is, in FIGS. 20 to 23, similar to the sub-frame member 70, thissub-frame member 60 is constituted from a solar cell panel sub-holdingportion 61, a sub-wall portion 62, and a sub-bottom piece 66. Amongthese, the solar cell panel sub-holding portion 61 has a U-shaped crosssection, and inside the U shape, sandwiches an adjoining side of thesolar cell panel 9 from above and below, holding the solar cell panel 9.The sub-wall portion 62 is provided with a sub-outer wall 63 and asub-inner wall 64 that extend downward with an internal space 67sandwiched therebetween, and a sub-base piece 65 that closes theinternal space 67 at the lower edges of the sub-outer wall 63 and thesub-inner wall 64, provided under the solar cell panel sub-holdingportion 61, the sub-wall portion 62 being constituted with a side endopening of the internal space 67 closed by abutting against with themain wall portion 52 of the main frame member 50. The sub-bottom piece66 is provided to the inner side of the lower part of the sub-inner wall64 of the sub-wall portion 62, extending inward.

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, the sub-frame member 60 used for the newsolar cell module 3 a according to this conventional example differsfrom the above-mentioned sub-frame member 70 in that the sub-bottompiece 66 of this sub-frame member 60 is provided extending such that thesub-bottom piece 66 is positioned not at the lower edge of the sub-innerwall 64 of the sub-wall portion 62, but at the lower part of thesub-inner wall 64 of the sub-wall portion 62, and furthermore above themain bottom piece 56 of the main frame member 50, and the lower surfacenear the side end of the sub-bottom piece 66 abuts against the uppersurface near the side end of the main bottom piece 56 of the main framemember 50.

Therefore, with the solar cell module 3 a, it is possible to connect thecorners of the main frame member 50 and the sub-frame member 60 suchthat the sub-bottom piece 66 of the sub-frame member 60 does not collidewith the main bottom piece 56 of the main frame member 50.

Incidentally, there are many cases in which the solar cell module 3 aaccording to the conventional example constituted as described above isinstalled in an inclined manner on an installation place such as aninclined roof, in order to be able to use sunlight efficiently, whenused for a residence, for instance.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 20, generally, the solar cell module 3 ais installed in an inclined manner such that one of the sub-framemembers 60 is in the lowest position. Note that FIGS. 20 and 21 showthat the solar cell module 3 a is inclined relative to a horizontalsurface 6 with an inclination angle 7. In this way, if the solar cellmodule 3 a is installed in an inclined manner, when it is raining or thelike, rainwater flows on the main bottom piece 56 of the inclined mainframe member 50 from a higher position to a lower position.

The above-described solar cell module 3 a has a structure in which thesub-bottom piece 66 of the sub-frame member 60 is provided extendingsuch that the sub-bottom piece 66 is positioned above the main bottompiece 56 of the main frame member 50, and the lower surface near theside end of the sub-bottom piece 66 abuts against the upper surface nearthe side end of the main bottom piece 56 of the main frame member 50.Accordingly, along the stream direction indicated by an arrow 8 as shownin FIG. 20, rainwater flows from a higher position to a lower position,climbs over the level difference between the main bottom piece 56 andthe sub-bottom piece 66, and flows onto the upper surface of thesub-bottom piece 66, from the main bottom piece 56.

The rainwater that has flowed onto this sub-bottom piece 66 flows intothe internal space 67 of the sub-wall portion 62 through a gap betweenthe sub-inner wall 64 of the sub-wall portion 62 and the main wallportion 52, for instance. As described above, this internal space 67 isclosed with the side end opening of the internal space 67 abuttingagainst the main wall portion 52 of the main frame member 50.

Then, the rainwater that has flowed into the internal space 67 of thissub-wall portion 62 may freeze during periods of extreme cold in coldlocations, for instance. As described above, since the internal space 67of the sub-wall portion 62 is closed, if rainwater and the like flowinto this internal space 67 and freeze therein, a gap and the likearound the internal space 67 will freeze clue to this rainwater and thelike. Accordingly, this internal space 67 becomes a closed space, andduring periods of extreme cold in cold locations, for instance,rainwater may freeze and expand in volume, which may damage the sub-wallportion 62 of the sub-frame member 60. Thus, this has been one of thecauses of damage to the solar cell module 3 a.

In view of the above, the present invention has been conceived in orderto improve such circumstances, and is aimed at providing a solar cellmodule that can be prevented from being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed in, if the solar cell module isinstalled in an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof.

Means for Solving the Problems

As a solar cell module of the present invention, it is possible toconstitute two types of solar cell modules, namely a first solar cellmodule and a second solar cell module. First, the first solar cellmodule is described.

The first solar cell module of the present invention holds a solar cellpanel so as to surround the solar cell panel on its inner side using aplurality of pairs of members, each pair constituted from a main framemember that holds one side of the solar cell panel and a sub-framemember that holds an adjoining side that adjoins this one side. Further,this first solar cell module is installed in an inclined manner on aninclined place such as a roof, such that one of the sub-frame members isin the lowest position.

The main frame member of the above-mentioned first solar cell module isprovided with a solar cell panel main holding portion, a main wallportion, and a main bottom piece. Among these, the solar cell panel mainholding portion has a U-shaped cross section, and sandwiches the oneside of the solar cell panel from above and below inside the U shape,holding the solar cell panel. The main wall portion is connected to thebottom of the solar cell panel main holding portion, extending downwardtherefrom. The main bottom piece is provided to the inner side of thelower edge of the main wall portion, extending inward.

The sub-frame member of the above-mentioned first solar cell module isprovided with a solar cell panel sub-holding portion, a sub-wallportion, and a sub-bottom piece. Among these, the solar cell panelsub-holding portion has a U-shaped cross section, and sandwiches theadjoining side of the solar cell panel from above and below inside the Ushape, holding the solar cell panel.

The sub-wall portion is provided with a sub-outer wall and a sub-innerwall that extend downward with an internal space sandwichedtherebetween, and a sub-base piece that closes the internal space at thelower edges of the sub-outer wall and the sub-inner wall, provided underthe solar cell panel sub-holding portion, the sub-wall portion beingconstituted with a side end opening of the internal space closed byabutting against the main wall portion of the main frame member. Thesub-bottom piece is provided to the inner side of the lower part of thesub-inner wall of the sub-wall portion, extending inward.

A feature of the above-mentioned first solar cell module is that thesub-bottom piece is positioned above the main bottom piece of the mainframe member, and the lower surface near the side end of the sub-bottompiece abuts against the upper surface near the side end of the mainbottom piece of the main frame member, and a water barrier piece bentupward is formed at the inner side edge of the sub-bottom piece.

Accordingly, if the above-mentioned first solar cell module is installedin an inclined manner, when it is raining, even though rainwater and thelike flow on the main bottom piece of the inclined main frame memberfrom a higher position to a lower position, due to the water barrierpiece that is bent upward and formed at the inner side edge of thesub-bottom piece of the sub-frame member, rainwater and the like aredammed up and discharged downward from the inner side edge of the mainbottom piece of the main frame member. Therefore, rainwater and the likeare prevented from flowing onto the sub-bottom piece.

Consequently, with the above-mentioned first solar cell module, asdescribed above, the side end opening of the internal space of thesub-frame member is closed by abutting against the main wall portion ofthe main frame member and, further, the flow of rainwater and the likeonto the sub-bottom piece is prevented. Therefore, rainwater and thelike do not flow into the internal space of the sub-wall portion.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the sub-wall portion of thesub-frame member being damaged due to rainwater that has flowed into theinternal space of the sub-wall portion freezing and expanding in volume.Therefore, if the above-mentioned first solar cell module is installedin an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof, it ispossible to prevent the module being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed into it.

With the above-mentioned first solar cell module, it is preferable thatthe water barrier piece is formed such that the angle formed by thewater barrier piece and the sub-bottom piece is between 90 degrees and120 degrees. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the waterbarrier piece is formed such that the edge surface of this water barrierpiece is substantially parallel to the sub-bottom piece. Further, it ispreferable that the water barrier piece is formed such that the heightto the edge surface of the water barrier piece from the upper surface ofthe sub-bottom piece is 2 mm or more.

Next, the second solar cell module of the present invention is descried.Similar to the first solar cell module of the present invention, thesecond solar cell module of the present invention holds a solar cellpanel so as to surround the solar cell panel on its inner side using aplurality of pairs of members, each pair constituted from a main framemember that holds one side of the solar cell panel and a sub-framemember that holds an adjoining side that adjoins the one side. Similarto the first solar cell module, this second solar cell module isinstalled in an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof suchthat one of the sub-frame members is in the lowest position.

The main frame member of the above-mentioned second solar cell module isprovided with a solar cell panel main holding portion, a main wallportion, and a main bottom piece. Among these, the solar cell panel mainholding portion has a U-shaped cross section, and sandwiches the oneside of the solar cell panel from above and below inside the U shape,holding the solar cell panel. The main wall portion is connected to thebottom of the solar cell panel main holding portion, extending downwardtherefrom. The main bottom piece is provided to the inner side of thelower edge of the main wall portion, extending inward.

The sub-frame member of the above-mentioned second solar cell module isprovided with a solar cell panel sub-holding portion, a sub-wallportion, and a sub-bottom piece. Among these, the solar cell panelsub-holding portion has a U-shaped cross section, and sandwiches theadjoining side of the solar cell panel from above and below inside the Ushape, holding the solar cell panel.

The sub-wall portion is provided with a sub-outer wall and a sub-innerwall that extend downward with an internal space sandwichedtherebetween, and a sub-base piece that closes the internal space at thelower edges of the sub-outer wall and the sub-inner wall, provided underthe solar cell panel sub-holding portion, the sub-wall portion beingconstituted with a side end opening of the internal space closed byabutting against the main wall portion of the main frame member. Thesub-bottom piece is provided to the inner side of the lower part of thesub-inner wall of the sub-wall portion, extending inward.

A feature of the above-mentioned second solar cell module is that thesub-bottom piece is positioned above the main bottom piece of the mainframe member, and is formed such that there is a gap into which watercan flow between the sub-bottom piece and the main bottom piece.

Accordingly, if the above-mentioned second solar cell module isinstalled in an inclined manner, when it is raining, even thoughrainwater and the like flow on the main bottom piece of the inclinedmain frame member from a higher position to a lower position, sincethere is a gap into which water can flow between the sub-bottom piece ofthe sub-frame member and the main bottom piece of the main frame member,rainwater and the like flow into the gap into which this water can flow,and are discharged downward. Therefore, rainwater and the like areprevented from flowing onto the sub-bottom piece.

Consequently, with the above-mentioned second solar cell module, asdescribed above, the side end opening of the internal space of thesub-frame member is closed by abutting against the main wall portion ofthe main frame member and, further, the flow of rainwater and the likeonto the sub-bottom piece is prevented. Therefore, rainwater and thelike do not flow into the internal space of the sub-wall portion.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the sub-wall portion of thesub-frame member being damaged due to rainwater that has flowed into theinternal space of the sub-wall portion freezing and expanding in volume.Therefore, if the above-mentioned second solar cell module is installedin an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof, it ispossible to prevent the module being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed into it.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, with a solar cell module, the lowersurface near the side end of a sub-bottom piece of a sub-frame memberabuts against the upper surface near the side end of a main bottom pieceof a main frame member, and a water barrier piece bent upward is formedat the inner side edge of the sub-bottom piece. Alternatively, thesub-bottom piece of the sub-frame member is positioned above the mainbottom piece of the main frame member, and a gap into which water canflow is formed between the sub-bottom piece and the main bottom piece.

Accordingly, if the solar cell module is installed in an inclinedmanner, when it is raining, even though rainwater and the like flow onthe main bottom piece of the inclined main frame member from a higherposition to a lower position, due to the water barrier piece that isbent upward and formed at the inner side edge of the sub-bottom piece ofthe sub-frame member, rainwater and the like are dammed up anddischarged downward from the inner side edge of the main bottom piece ofthe main frame member. Therefore, rainwater and the like are preventedfrom flowing onto the sub-bottom piece. Alternatively, since there is agap into which water can flow between the sub-bottom piece of thesub-frame member and the main bottom piece of the main frame member,rainwater and the like flow into the gap into which this water can flow,and are discharged downward. Therefore, rainwater and the like areprevented from flowing onto the sub-bottom piece.

Therefore, since the flow of rainwater and the like onto this sub-bottompiece is prevented, rainwater and the like do not flow into the internalspace of the sub-wall portion. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid thesub-wall portion of the sub-frame member being damaged due to rainwaterthat has flowed into the internal space of the sub-wall portion freezingand expanding in volume. For that reason, if the solar cell module isinstalled in an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof, itis possible to prevent the module being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed into it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the solar cellmodule according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 3.

[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a (first) cross-sectional view showing the shape ofthe edge of a water barrier piece of a sub-frame member of the solarcell module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a (second) cross-sectional view showing the shape ofthe edge of the water barrier piece of the sub-frame member of the solarcell module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a (third) cross-sectional view showing the shape ofthe edge of the water barrier piece of the sub-frame member of the solarcell module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view of the solar cellmodule according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 10.

[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of a solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a partial exploded perspective view of the solarcell module according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of the solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C in FIG. 14.

[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of a solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is a partial exploded perspective view of the solarcell module according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is a partial plan view of the solar cell moduleaccording to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D in FIG. 18.

[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of a solar cell moduleaccording to an improved conventional example.

[FIG. 21] FIG. 21 is a partial exploded perspective view of the solarcell module according to the improved conventional example.

[FIG. 22] FIG. 22 is a partial plan view of the solar cell moduleaccording to the improved conventional example.

[FIG. 23] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along E-E in FIG. 22.

[FIG. 24] FIG. 24 is a partial exploded perspective view of a solar cellmodule according to the conventional example.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 a solar cell module

1 b solar cell module

2 a solar cell module

2 b solar cell module

3 a solar cell module

3 b solar cell module

6 horizontal surface

7 inclination angle

8 stream direction

9 solar cell panel

10 main frame member

11 solar cell panel main holding portion

12 main wall portion

13 main outer wall

14 main inner wall

15 main base piece

16 main bottom piece

17 internal space

20 sub-frame member

21 solar cell panel sub-holding portion

22 sub-wall portion

23 sub-outer wall

24 sub-inner wall

25 sub-base piece

26 sub-bottom piece

27 internal space

28 water barrier piece

30 main frame member

31 solar cell panel main holding portion

32 main wall portion

33 main outer wall

34 main inner wall

35 main base piece

36 main bottom piece

37 internal space

40 sub-frame member

41 solar cell panel sub-holding portion

42 sub-wall portion

43 sub-outer wall

44 sub-inner wall

45 sub-base piece

46 sub-bottom piece

47 internal space

48 gap

50 main frame member

51 solar cell panel main holding portion

54 main inner wall

55 main base piece

56 main bottom piece

57 internal space

60 sub-frame member

61 solar cell panel sub-holding portion

62 sub-wall portion

63 sub-outer wall

64 sub-inner wall

65 sub-base piece

66 sub-bottom piece

67 internal space

70 sub-frame member

71 solar cell panel sub-holding portion

72 sub-wall portion

73 sub-outer wall

74 sub-inner wall

75 sub-base piece

76 sub-bottom piece

77 internal space

78 removal necessary portion

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, solar cell modules according to Embodiments of the presentinvention are described with reference to the drawings. In thedescription of these embodiments, solar cell modules according to fourtypes of embodiments, namely Embodiments 1 to 4, are described.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of a solarcell module 1 a according to Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a partial explodedperspective view thereof, FIG. 3 is a partial plan view thereof, andFIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 3. Note that inFIGS. 1, 3, and 4, a solar cell panel 9 is omitted, and FIGS. 1 and 2show that the solar cell module 1 a is inclined relative to a horizontalsurface 6 with an inclination angle 7. That is, the solar cell module 1a according to Embodiment 1 is installed in an inclined manner on aninclined place such as a roof, such that one of the sub-frame members 20described later is in the lowest position.

The solar cell module 1 a according to this Embodiment 1 has thefollowing structure. That is, in FIGS. 1 to 4, the solar cell panel 9has a rectangular shape, and using two pairs of members, each pairconstituted from a main frame member 10 that holds one side of thissolar cell panel 9 and a sub-frame member 20 that holds an adjoiningside that adjoins this one side, the solar cell panel 9 is held so as tobe surrounded on the inner side.

The above-mentioned main frame member 10 is constituted from a solarcell panel main holding portion 11, a main wall portion 12, and a mainbottom piece 16. Among these, the solar cell panel main holding portion11 has a U-shaped cross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches oneside of the solar cell panel 9 from above and below, holding the solarcell panel 9. The main wall portion 12 is constituted from a main outerwall 13 that is connected to the bottom of the solar cell panel mainholding portion 11 and extends downward therefrom. The main bottom piece16 is provided to the inner side of the lower edge of the Main wallportion 12, extending inward.

The sub-frame member 20 is constituted from a solar cell panelsub-holding portion 21, a sub-wall portion 22, and a sub-bottom piece26. Among these, the solar cell panel sub-holding portion 21 has aU-shaped cross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches an adjoiningside of the solar cell panel 9 from above and below, holding the solarcell panel 9.

The sub-wall portion 22 is provided with a sub-outer wall 23 and asub-inner wall 24 that extend downward with an internal space 27sandwiched therebetween, and a sub-base piece 25 that closes theinternal space 27 at the lower edges of the sub-outer wall 23 and thesub-inner wall 24, provided under the solar cell panel sub-holdingportion 21, the sub-wall portion 22 being constituted with a side endopening of the internal space 27 closed by abutting against the internalsurface of the main wall portion 12 of the main frame member 10. Thesub-bottom piece 26 is provided to the inner side of the lower part ofthe sub-inner wall 24 of the sub-wall portion 22, extending inward.

With the above-described solar cell module 1 a, as shown in FIG. 4, thesub-bottom piece 26 of the sub-frame member 20 is positioned above themain bottom piece 16 of the main frame member 10, and the lower surfacenear the side end of this sub-bottom piece 26 abuts against the uppersurface near the side end of the main bottom piece 16. Further, a waterbarrier piece 28 bent upward is formed at the inner side edge of thissub-bottom piece 26.

Accordingly, if the above-mentioned solar cell module 1 a is installedin an inclined manner, when it is raining, even though rainwater and thelike flow on the main bottom piece 16 of the inclined main frame member10 from a higher position to a lower position, due to the water barrierpiece 28 that is bent upward and formed at the inner side edge of thesub-bottom piece 26 of the sub-frame member 20, as indicated by a streamdirection 8 shown in FIG. 1, rainwater and the like are dammed up anddischarged downward from the inner side edge of the main bottom piece 16of the main frame member 10. Therefore, rainwater and the like areprevented from flowing onto the upper surface of the sub-bottom piece 26of the sub-frame member 20.

Consequently, with the above-mentioned solar cell module 1 a, asdescribed above, the side end opening of the internal space 27 of thesub-frame member 20 is closed by abutting against the main wall portion12 of the main frame member 10 and, further, the flow of rainwater andthe like onto the upper surface of the sub-bottom piece 26 of thesub-frame member 20 is prevented. Therefore, rainwater and the like donot flow into the internal space 27 of the sub-wall portion 22 of thesub-frame member 20. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the sub-wallportion 22 of the sub-frame member 20 being damaged due to rainwaterthat has flowed into the internal space 27 of this sub-wall portion 22freezing and expanding in volume. Therefore, if the above-describedsolar cell module 1 a is installed in an inclined manner on an inclinedplace such as a roof, it is possible to prevent the module being damageddue to the freezing of rainwater and the like that have flowed into it.

With the above-mentioned solar cell module 1 a according to Embodiment1, the angle formed by the water barrier piece 28 and the sub-bottompiece 26 is 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 5. However, the angle is notlimited to this, and the angle formed by the water barrier piece 28 andthe sub-bottom piece 26 may be an angle between 90 degrees shown inFIGS. 5 and 120 degrees shown in FIG. 6. As the angle formed by thewater barrier piece 28 and the sub-bottom piece 26, using 90 degrees to120 degrees is superior compared with a case of using angles other thanthese, which has been confirmed in an experiment using a trial product.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable to form the water barrierpiece 28 such that the edge surface of this water barrier piece 28 issubstantially parallel to the sub-bottom piece 26. By giving the end ofthis water barrier piece 28 such a shape, when rainwater and the likeflow on the main bottom piece 16 of the inclined main frame member 10from a higher position to a lower position, rainwater and the like arenot easily allowed to climb over this water barrier piece 28.

Moreover, it is preferable to form the water barrier piece 28 such thatthe height to the edge surface of the water barrier piece 28 from theupper surface of the sub-bottom piece 26 is 2 mm or more. A favorableresult can be obtained if the height to the edge surface of the waterbarrier piece 28 from the upper surface of the sub-bottom piece 26 ismade 2 mm or more, which has been confirmed in an experiment using atrial product.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of a solarcell module 1 b according to Embodiment 2, FIG. 9 is a partial explodedperspective view thereof, FIG. 10 is a partial plan view thereof, andFIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 10. Note thatin FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, a solar cell panel 9 is omitted, and FIGS. 8 and9 show that the solar cell module 1 b is inclined relative to ahorizontal surface 6 with an inclination angle 7. That is, the solarcell module 1 b according to Embodiment 2 is installed in an inclinedmanner on an inclined place such as a roof, such that one of thesub-frame members 20 described later is in the lowest position, similarto the solar cell module 1 a according to Embodiment 1.

The solar cell module 1 b according to Embodiment 2 is almost the sameas the solar cell module 1 a according to Embodiment 1. The solar cellmodule 1 b according to Embodiment 2 differs from the solar cell module1 a according to Embodiment 1 in that, compared with the solar cellmodule 1 a according to Embodiment 1 provided with the main wall portion12 of the main frame member 10 formed only using the main outer wall 13,the solar cell module 1 b according to Embodiment 2 is provided with themain wall portion 12 of the main frame member 10 constituted from themain outer wall 13, a main inner wall 14, and a main base piece 15, andfurthermore an internal space 17 formed therein.

Therefore, the sub-frame member 20 of the solar cell module 1 b inEmbodiment 2 is completely the same as that of the solar cell module 1 ain Embodiment 1, and provision of the water barrier piece 28 to thesub-frame member 20 is similar to the solar cell module 1 a according toEmbodiment 1.

Accordingly, the function and effect provided to the solar cell module 1b according to Embodiment 2 are completely the same as the function andeffect provided to the solar cell module 1 a according to Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of a solarcell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3, FIG. 13 is a partial explodedperspective view thereof, FIG. 14 is a partial plan view thereof, andFIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C in FIG. 14. Note thatin FIGS. 12, 14, and 15, a solar cell panel 9 is omitted, and FIGS. 12and 13 show that the solar cell module 2 a is inclined relative to ahorizontal surface 6 with an inclination angle 7. That is, the solarcell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3 is installed in an inclinedmanner on an inclined place such as a roof, such that one of thesub-frame members 40 described later is in the lowest position.

The solar cell module 2 a according to this Embodiment 3 has thefollowing structure. That is, in FIGS. 12 to 15, the solar cell panel 9has a rectangular shape, and using two pairs of members, each pairconstituted from a main frame member 30 that holds one side of thissolar cell panel 9 and a sub-frame member 40 that holds an adjoiningside that adjoins this one side, the solar cell panel 9 is held so as tobe surrounded on the inner side.

The above-mentioned main frame member 30 is constituted from a solarcell panel main holding portion 31, a main wall portion 32, and a mainbottom piece 36. Among these, the solar cell panel main holding portion31 has a U-shaped cross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches oneside of the solar cell panel 9 from above and below, holding the solarcell panel 9. The main wall portion 32 is constituted from a main outerwall 33 that is connected to the bottom of the solar cell panel mainholding portion 31 and extends downward therefrom. The main bottom piece36 is provided to the inner side of the lower edge of the main wallportion 32, extending inward.

The sub-frame member 40 is constituted from a solar cell panelsub-holding portion 41, a sub-wall portion 42, and a sub-bottom piece46. Among these, the solar cell panel sub-holding portion 41 has aU-shaped cross section, and inside the U shape, sandwiches an adjoiningside of the solar cell panel 9 from above and below so as to hold thesolar cell panel 9.

The sub-wall portion 42 is provided with a sub-outer wall 43 and asub-inner wall 44 that extend downward with an internal space 47sandwiched therebetween, and a sub-base piece 45 that closes theinternal space 47 at the lower edges of the sub-outer wall 43 and thesub-inner wall 44, provided under the solar cell panel sub-holdingportion 41, the sub-wall portion 42 being constituted with a side endopening of the internal space 47 closed by abutting against the internalsurface of the main wall portion 32 of the main frame member 30. Thesub-bottom piece 46 is provided to the inner side of the lower part ofthe sub-inner wall 44 of the sub-wall portion 42, extending inward.

With the above-mentioned solar cell module 2 a, as shown in FIG. 15, thesub-bottom piece 46 of the sub-frame member 40 is positioned above themain bottom piece 36 of the main frame member 30, and a gap 48 intowhich water can flow is formed between the sub-bottom piece 46 of thesub-frame member 40 and the main bottom piece 36 of the main framemember 30.

Accordingly, if the above-mentioned solar cell module 2 a is installedin an inclined manner, when it is raining, even though rainwater and thelike flow on the main bottom piece 36 of the inclined main frame member30 from a higher position to a lower position, since the gap 48 intowhich water can flow is formed between the sub-bottom piece 46 of thesub-frame member 40 and the main bottom piece 36 of the main framemember 30, rainwater and the like flow into the gap 48 into which thiswater can flow, and are discharged downward as indicated by a streamdirection 8 shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, rainwater and the like areprevented from flowing onto the upper surface of the sub-bottom piece46.

Consequently, with the above-mentioned solar cell module 2 a, asdescribed above, the side end opening of the internal space 47 of thesub-frame member 40 is closed by abutting against the main wall portion32 of the main frame member 30 and, further, the flow of rainwater andthe like onto the upper surface of the sub-bottom piece 46 of thesub-frame member 40 is prevented. Therefore, rainwater and the like donot flow into the internal space 47 of the sub-wall portion 42.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the sub-wall portion 42 of thesub-frame member 40 being damaged due to rainwater that has flowed intothe internal space 47 of the sub-wall portion 42 freezing and expandingin volume. Therefore, if the above-mentioned solar cell module 2 a isinstalled in an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof, itis possible to prevent the module being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed into it.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of a solarcell module 2 b according to Embodiment 4, FIG. 17 is a partial explodedperspective view thereof, FIG. 18 is a partial plan view thereof, andFIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D in FIG. 18. Note thatin FIGS. 16, 18, and 19, a solar cell panel 9 is omitted, and FIGS. 16and 17 show that the solar cell module 2 b is inclined relative to ahorizontal surface 6 with an inclination angle 7. That is, the solarcell module 2 b according to Embodiment 4 is installed in an inclinedmanner on an inclined place such as a roof, such that one of thesub-frame members 40 described later is in the lowest position, similarto the solar cell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3.

The solar cell module 2 b according to Embodiment 4 is almost the sameas the solar cell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3. The solar cellmodule 2 b according to Embodiment 4 differs from the solar cell module2 a according to Embodiment 3 in that, compared with the solar cellmodule 2 a according to Embodiment 3 provided with the main wall portion32 of the main frame member 30 formed only using the main outer wall 33,the solar cell module 2 b according to Embodiment 4 is provided with themain wall portion 32 of the main frame member 30 constituted from themain outer wall 33, a main inner wall 34, and a main base piece 35, andfurthermore an internal space 37 formed therein.

Therefore, the sub-frame member 40 of the solar cell module 2 b inEmbodiment 4 is completely the same as that of the solar cell module 2 ain Embodiment 3. As shown in FIG. 19, the sub-bottom piece 46 of thesub-frame member 40 is positioned above the main bottom piece 36 of themain frame member 30, and a gap 48 into which water can flow is formedbetween the sub-bottom piece 46 of the sub-frame member 40 and the mainbottom piece 36 of the main frame member 30, which is similar to thesolar cell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3.

Accordingly, the function and effect provided to the solar cell module 2b according to Embodiment 4 are completely the same as the function andeffect provided to the solar cell module 2 a according to Embodiment 3.

The present invention may be embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from the gist or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore,the embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not limiting. The scope of theinvention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description, and all modifications or changes that come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to beembraced therein.

This application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No.2007-226606 filed in Japan on Aug. 31, 2007, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, the entire contents ofreferences cited in the present specification are herein specificallyincorporated by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A solar cell module of the present invention is useful since it ispossible to prevent the module being damaged due to the freezing ofrainwater and the like that have flowed into it if the module isinstalled in an inclined manner on an inclined place such as a roof.

1. A solar cell module that holds a solar cell panel so as to surroundthe solar cell panel on its inner side using a plurality of pairs ofmembers, each pair constituted from a main frame member that holds oneside of the solar cell panel and a sub-frame member that holds anadjoining side that adjoins the one side, and that can be installed inan inclined manner on an inclined place, such as a roof, such that oneof the sub-frame members is in a lowest position, wherein the main framemember comprises: a solar cell panel main holding portion that has aU-shaped cross section, and sandwiches the one side of the solar cellpanel from above and below inside the U shape, holding the solar cellpanel; a main wall portion that is connected to the bottom of the solarcell panel main holding portion, extending downward therefrom; and amain bottom piece that is provided to an inner side of a lower edge ofthe main wall portion, extending inward, the sub-frame member comprises:a solar cell panel sub-holding portion that has a U-shaped crosssection, and sandwiches the adjoining side of the solar cell panel fromabove and below inside the U shape, holding the solar cell panel; asub-wall portion comprising a sub-outer wall and a sub-inner wall thatextend downward with an internal space sandwiched therebetween, and asub-base piece that closes the internal space at lower edges of thesub-outer wall and the sub-inner wall, provided under the solar cellpanel sub-holding portion, the sub-wall portion being constituted with aside end opening of the internal space closed by abutting against themain wall portion of the main frame member; and a sub-bottom piece thatis provided to an inner side of a lower part of the sub-inner wall ofthe sub-wall portion, extending inward, and the sub-bottom piece ispositioned above the main bottom piece of the main frame member, and alower surface near a side end of the sub-bottom piece abuts against anupper surface near a side end of the main bottom piece of the main framemember, and a water barrier piece bent upward is formed at an inner sideedge of the sub-bottom piece.
 2. The solar cell module according toclaim 1, wherein the water barrier piece is formed such that an angleformed by the water barrier piece and the sub-bottom piece is between 90degrees and 120 degrees.
 3. The solar-cell module according to claim 2,wherein the water barrier piece is formed such that an edge surface ofthe water barrier piece is substantially parallel to the sub-bottompiece.
 4. The solar cell module according to claim 3; wherein the waterbarrier piece is formed such that a height to the edge surface of thewater barrier piece from an upper surface of the sub-bottom piece is atleast 2 mm.
 5. (canceled)